Best ATV Trails in Texas: Public OHV Areas and Top Riding Parks
Last updated on October 26th, 2026 at 08:14 pm
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The best public ATV riding in Texas is the 85-mile Sam Houston National Forest trail near New Waverly, Barnwell Mountain near Gilmer and Northwest OHV Park near Bridgeport. Private parks such as Hidden Falls, General Sam’s and River Run add mud, rock and campgrounds, and each sets its own pass and waiver.
At public OHV venues, and at private venues that took state grant money, you need a $16 Texas OHV decal on the machine. Trail status, fees and closures change often, so call before you load up.
Texas public OHV venues by machine type
| Venue | Near | ATV | Motorcycle | Side-by-side | Full-size 4x4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area | Gilmer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eisenhower State Park | Denison | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Lake Buffalo OHV Area | Iowa Park | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Red River (BLM land, Texas side) | Clay, Wichita, Wilbarger counties | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Northwest OHV Park | Bridgeport | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trophy Club Park at Grapevine Lake | Trophy Club | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Buffalo Valley MX Park | Marion | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Mud Buddies ATV Park | Hallettsville | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sam Houston National Forest trail | New Waverly | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Buffalo Springs Lake OHV Area | Lubbock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Childress ATV Park | Childress | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lake Mackenzie Recreation Area | Silverton | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Lake Meredith NRA (Blue Creek, Rosita Flats) | Fritch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| White River Reservoir | Spur | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Escondido Draw Recreational Area | Ozona | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moss Creek Lake ATV Park | Big Spring | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| San Felipe Park | Fabens | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Twin Buttes OHV Area | San Angelo | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Three of these are ATV and motorcycle only: Sam Houston National Forest, Eisenhower State Park and Trophy Club Park. A side-by-side stays on the trailer there.
Barnwell, Northwest OHV Park, Escondido Draw, Lake Buffalo and Lake Meredith also take full-size 4x4s, which makes them the better pick for mixed groups.
Trail mileage for most of these is quoted differently from site to site. Where sources disagree, this guide says so instead of picking a number.
Find a Texas riding area for your machine
Based on the TPWD venue list plus each park’s own pages cited below. Phone numbers and rules change; confirm before you drive.
The finder lists every venue in the table that allows your vehicle, then three private parks that have their own rules. Choose “Private parks” to see only those.
If the result says “TPWD-listed venue,” the state decal applies. For private parks, the park decides what you need at the gate.
East and Southeast Texas
Sam Houston National Forest Multiple-Use Trail (New Waverly)
The Forest Service describes 85 miles of multiple-use trail for hiking, biking, horses and registered OHVs. It is the only trail open to OHVs in the National Forests in Texas, and TPWD lists it for ATVs and motorcycles only.
Machines on the trail can be no wider than 50 inches, with a spark arrestor exhaust at 96 decibels or less. Riders carry a valid ID, proof of day-use payment and, on an ATV, proof of an ATV Operator Education Course. Helmet and eye protection are required. Forest Service trail page.
A day pass is $5 per person per day at trailhead self-pay stations or online through recreation.gov. The annual pass is $25. Trails close when wet soil could be damaged, so call the Ranger’s Office at 936-344-6205 (or 888-361-6908, option 2) for status.
Trailheads include the West Side (FS Road 208), East Side (FS Road 233), Kelly’s Pond and Northwest. The 234 trailhead is equestrian only. Forest roads are open to street-legal vehicles only, and cross-country riding is not allowed.
Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area (Gilmer)
Barnwell sits at 6284 State Highway 155 North and is run by the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition. TPWD lists it for ATVs, motorcycles, ROVs and full-size OHVs, and calls it out as a private venue that still requires the decal because it used OHV grant money. Phone 903-797-4066.
Published trail totals range from about 50 miles to more than 200, depending on the source. Ask for a current trail map instead of trusting any one number.
General Sam’s Offroad Park (Huntsville)
About 70 miles north of Houston, General Sam’s describes itself as 756 acres with more than 100 miles of trails, mud pits and rock ledges. It lists ATV, UTV and Jeep trails, plus cabins and RV sites. The acreage and mileage are the park’s own figures. General Sam’s
River Run ATV Park (Jacksonville)
River Run sits on the Neches River on more than 2,000 acres of private land, with 156 RV sites and 40 cabins. Riders under 18 need a parent or legal guardian or a notarized park waiver, and photo ID is required at the gate.
The park says motorized vehicles are not allowed in the river itself and gives no total trail mileage. It closes Thanksgiving Day and December 14–30 this year. River Run
Central and South Texas
Hidden Falls Adventure Park (Marble Falls)
Hidden Falls, at 7030 E FM 1431, is private property with trails for motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs. Acreage and mileage claims vary: the park’s Facebook page describes more than 2,100 acres, older write-ups say 3,000 and trail totals run from 200-plus to about 240 miles. No total is quoted here. Phone 830-798-9820.
Under the park’s rules, ATV and motorcycle riders wear DOT helmets at all times and UTVs with roll cages require seat belts. Riders stay on marked trails only. Night riding is allowed Friday and Saturday until midnight. No membership is needed. Park rules
Minors 17 and under need a parent or guardian over 21, and children 14 and under cannot ride without adult supervision.
After a flood, the park says some trail ratings no longer match its map, and its homepage listed Wet & Wild as still closed when this was checked in October 2026. It offers no recovery, so carry a strap and basic tools. For roadside fixes, see our ATV and UTV troubleshooting guide.
Mud Buddies ATV Park and Buffalo Valley MX Park
TPWD lists Mud Buddies at 5541 County Road 450 in Hallettsville for ATVs, motorcycles and ROVs (361-798-1940). Online fee and hours listings conflict, so call first.
Buffalo Valley MX Park near Marion (210-845-2017) takes ATVs and motorcycles.
North Texas
Northwest OHV Park (Bridgeport)
TPWD lists Northwest OHV Park in Wise County for ATVs, motorcycles, ROVs and full-size OHVs. The gatehouse numbers are 940-683-3480 on weekdays and 940-683-3685 on weekends. Sources disagree on hours and fees, so call.
Trophy Club Park, Eisenhower State Park and Lake Buffalo
Trophy Club Park (682-831-4603) is ATV and motorcycle only. The Army Corps of Engineers says it is the only place on Grapevine Lake where ATVs and dirt bikes are allowed. Corps FAQ
Eisenhower State Park in Denison (903-465-1956) is also ATVs and motorcycles only, and it sells the Texas decal. Lake Buffalo OHV Area in Iowa Park (940-592-2642) takes ATVs, motorcycles, ROVs and full-size OHVs.
On the Texas side of the Red River, BLM land is open to ATVs, motorcycles, ROVs and full-size OHVs along the navigable river. Call the BLM Tulsa Field Office at 918-621-4400 or the Moore Field Office at 405-794-9624 before you go.
West Texas and the Panhandle
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (Fritch)
Blue Creek and Rosita Flats are the designated off-road areas. Riders must stay within the cutbanks at Blue Creek and below 3,000 feet in elevation at Rosita. Dune buggies and sand rails are allowed along with ATVs, motorcycles, ROVs and full-size OHVs.
Besides the Texas decal, you need a free NPS ORV permit. It runs January 1 to December 31, lists each vehicle’s VIN and is applied for by email to lamr_permits@nps.gov. DOT helmet and eye protection are required, and ATVs need a whip and flag. NPS ORV page. Phone 806-857-3151.
Escondido Draw Recreational Area (Ozona)
This Texas Motorized Trails Coalition property covers 3,400 acres. The park lists a 35-plus-mile single-track trail for dirt bikes and 23-plus miles of trail for ATVs and OHVs, with primitive and RV camping. It is open Thursday through Sunday, and reservations help: 325-206-4251. Park site
More venues in the Panhandle and West
TPWD also lists Buffalo Springs Lake (Lubbock), Childress ATV Park, Lake Mackenzie (Silverton) and White River Reservoir (Spur) in the Panhandle. In West Texas it lists Moss Creek Lake (Big Spring), San Felipe Park (Fabens) and Twin Buttes (San Angelo). Use the finder above for machine types and phone numbers.
Texas OHV decal and ride rules
The decal is required by state law for anyone operating an OHV at a legal public-land venue, or at a private venue that received a TPWD OHV grant. Street-legal trucks and motorcycles need it too when trail riding on public land.
Using a street-legal vehicle on private land or public roads does not require it. Having a decal does not open public land that is not already legal for OHV use. TPWD OHV FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price | $16 per fiscal year, not prorated |
| Valid | September 1 through August 31 |
| Where to buy | TPWD at 512-389-8917, authorized dealers, and some venues such as Barnwell and Eisenhower State Park |
| Out-of-state decals | Not honored in Texas |
| Lost decal | No replacement; the wallet card is your proof, or buy another |
| Penalty | Class C misdemeanor, fines $25 to $500 |
| ATV registration | No longer required (HB 3849) |
Helmets, age and machine size
TPWD’s responsible-use page states that helmets are required and recommends helmets, eye protection and sturdy footwear. Riders should travel in groups of two or more and never ride on paved roads. Full-size OHVs should have hard tops or roll cages, seat belts and fire extinguishers. TPWD safety page
| Rider age | Engine size TPWD recommends |
|---|---|
| 6 and older | Under 70 cc |
| 12 and older | 70 to 90 cc |
| 16 and older | Over 90 cc |
If you need gear, a DOT-approved helmet and, for Lake Meredith, an ATV whip and flag are cheap to add. Check that anything you buy is rated for off-road use.
Tire pressure matters on sand and mud. Our air-down PSI calculator gives a starting range, and our ATV gear checklist covers the rest of what to wear.
Where you cannot ride
ATVs cannot be ridden on State Wildlife Management lands or leased Type II Permit lands unless the operator has a disability license plate or placard, and then only directly to and from a hunting or fishing spot. Recreational trail riding on those lands is not allowed. TPWD
National forest riding is limited to designated roads and trails on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. Sam Houston’s trail is the only motorized trail. If you run a side-by-side, see our ATV vs side-by-side guide for where each fits.
FAQs
TPWD lists public OHV venues across the state, including Sam Houston National Forest, Barnwell Mountain, Northwest OHV Park, Escondido Draw and Lake Meredith. Private parks such as Hidden Falls, General Sam’s and River Run set their own rules.
Yes, at public OHV venues and private venues that received TPWD OHV grant money. It costs $16 and is valid September 1 through August 31. Fines for riding without one run $25 to $500.
No. Texas has no reciprocity agreements, so out-of-state riders on public OHV land need a Texas decal.
No. TPWD lists the trail for ATVs and motorcycles only, and machines must be no wider than 50 inches.
Yes. TPWD states that helmets are required, and venues such as Lake Meredith and Hidden Falls specify DOT-approved helmets.
Related guides
- Best ATV Trails in North Carolina: Public OHV Areas and ATV Parks
- ATV and UTV Troubleshooting: Bogging, No-Start, Heat and Belts
- What to Wear ATV Riding: The Essential Safety Gear Checklist
I'm Suryashankar Dasgupta, the founder of Off-Road Handbook. I've been off-roading for years in the USA, including California and Texas, and have ridden mountain and desert terrain abroad. I've also driven a Jeep Compass for more than seven years, so I know the day-to-day side of Jeep ownership first-hand, from the Uconnect screen to the warning lights. Every guide here is researched from manufacturer owner's manuals, NHTSA recall and service-bulletin records and other trusted sources, checked against them before it is published, and corrected when we find a mistake. You can read how we work in our editorial policy: https://offroadhandbook.com/editorial-policy/
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